Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

He’s known simply as Big Larry. Friday, he lived up to his nickname.

Left-handed pitcher Larry Morris came up big on the mound and at the plate as the Ironton Fighting Tigers beat the Chesapeake Panthers 13-3 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Morris worked all five innings and allowed just one hit. He struck out six and walked four. None of the runs were earned.

Offensively, he went 3-for-3 with four runs batted in.

“Larry Morris had a big day hitting and pitching. We hit the ball well as a team,” said Ironton coach Larry Goodwin.

“We were patient at the plate when we needed to be patient and hit the ball well when we needed a hit.”

Ironton (6-0, 2-0) had 11 hits as Jake Isaac and Garrett Carrico each went 2-3 with an RBI, Hunter Klaiber was 2-4 with two RBI, Kyle Kleinman 1-3 with two RBI and Bryce Thomas 1-2.

Ironton went up 2-0 in the first as Isaac, Garrett Carrico and Morris all singled to go along with a wild pitch.

The lead went to 5-0 in the third.

Isaac drew a one-out walk, Carrico and Klaiber singled and Morris hit a sacrifice fly. Kleinman then unloaded a 2-run double.

Chesapeake (3-3, 3-1) got two runs in the fourth on a walk to Kolton Webb, a singled by Dakota Blankenship for their only hit, and both scored when Blake Ashworth reached on an error.

Ironton got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Thomas and Cody Rawlins walked and Isaac reached on an error.

The Panthers got a run in the top of the fifth on a missed third strike, walks to Kelton Jones and Webb and a sacrifice fly by Blankenship.

But Ironton scored seven times in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

Morris singled, Chase Rowe walked, Thomas singled, and Rawlins and Wilson walked. Isaac then singled home two runs, Carrico walked, Klaiber had a 2-run single and Morris’ RBI single ended the game.

In OVC games on Monday, Ironton visits South Point and Chesapeake hosts Gallipolis.

Chesapeake 000 21 = 3 1 1

Ironton 203 17 = 13 11 1

Kolton Webb, Jamey Morris (4), Zach Wright (5), Kelton Jones (5) and Blake Ashworth. Larry Morris and Bryce Thomas. W-Morris (K-6, BB-4, ER-0). L-Webb (IP-3, K-3, BB-3, H-6, R-6, ER-5). Morris (IP-1, K-2, BB-1). Wright (IP-0.1, BB-3, R-5, ER-5, H-2). Jones (IP-0.0, BB-1, H-3, R-2, ER-2). Hitting-Chesy: Dakota Blankenship 1-2 rbi; Ironton: Jake Isaac 2-3 rbi-2, Garrett Carrico 2-3 rbi, Hunter Klaiber 2-4 rbi-2, Larry Morris 3-3 rbi-4, Kyle Kleinman 1-3 rbi-2 2B, Bryce Thomas 1-2.